A SOCIAL media rivalry between Nigeria and South Africa has escalated into a disruptive prank affecting drivers of the online taxi service Bolt. Users from both countries have been booking and then cancelling rides across borders, leaving drivers frustrated and incurring unnecessary expenses.
Drivers became unwitting victims in this online feud, as they were dispatched to pick up passengers who were not even in the same country. This prank not only wasted drivers’ time but also led to financial losses due to fuel consumption and missed legitimate fares.
Drivers bear the brunt of online feud
Munyadzi Chinyama, a Bolt driver based in Cape Town, South Africa, recounted his experience to the BBC, stating that he received three false ride requests before realising they were part of the prank. ‘I wasted a lot of fuel, time, and money chasing after non-existent passengers,’ Chinyama lamented. He also reported receiving numerous insulting messages through Bolt’s in-app messaging system, including being mockingly referred to as ‘Mandela’s son.’
Similarly, a Nigerian driver in Kano shared his ordeal, explaining that he accepted a request for an airport trip from an international number, only for the customer to be a no-show. ‘I tried calling multiple times, but there was no response. Then they cancelled the trip,’ he said, noting that many of his colleagues had faced similar situations.
Bolt takes action to protect drivers
In response to the situation, Bolt announced that it has identified and blocked users participating in the prank. The company has also temporarily restricted inter-country ride requests between Nigeria and South Africa to prevent further misuse of the platform.
‘We understand the impact this situation has had on our driver-partners in Nigeria and South Africa,’ Bolt said in an official statement. ‘We have taken steps to block users involved in these activities and have limited cross-country requests between these two nations.’ The company clarified that inter-country requests remain functional between other countries.
Community backlash against the prank
The prank has drawn criticism from social media users who sympathise with the affected drivers. Many have pointed out that drivers are hardworking individuals striving to make a living and should not be targeted in such malicious games.
One user on X (formerly known as Twitter) wrote, ‘Uber and Bolt drivers are just trying to make ends meet. They aren’t on Twitter trolling anyone. They are literally trying to earn an honest living. Please leave them alone. And I’m talking to both sides.’
Another commented, ‘The Bolt challenge is painful because it’s innocent and hardworking people on both sides that are suffering due to the thoughtlessness of others. Really unfair.’
Wider implications of the prank
The prank has had broader consequences beyond individual drivers’ losses. In Nigeria, where fuel prices have surged in recent months, drivers wasted precious and costly fuel on these fake requests. Additionally, the influx of bogus bookings reportedly caused fare prices to surge in both countries, leaving many genuine customers stranded as they could not afford the inflated rates.
Ongoing social media rivalry
The origins of this particular prank are unclear, but it is part of a longstanding pattern of social media rivalry between sub-Saharan Africa’s two largest economies. Recently, tensions flared over a Miss South Africa controversy involving a half-Nigerian contestant who withdrew after facing xenophobic abuse. Other disputes have seen users from both countries pitting their pop stars, Tyla and Arya Starr, against each other and exchanging barbs over their national football teams.
While online banter between nations can sometimes be lighthearted, the recent misuse of Bolt’s services highlights how such rivalries can have real-world negative impacts on innocent individuals. As Bolt works to mitigate the damage and prevent further incidents, many are calling for more responsible behaviour on social media platforms to avoid harming those simply trying to earn an honest living.
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